Course Summary

Our Academic Discovery Plus Programme offers students aged 11-12 the opportunity to live and study in St Mary’s Ascot, a top UK boarding school.

For each week-long session, students study a variety of Arts and Science subjects, along with a series of more practical afternoon workshops. Students will have the opportunity to investigate a key question throughout a themed week of lessons and activities. Taught lessons will combine with fun afternoon workshops to help consolidate what students have learned that day. Each student will have the choice to enrol in either the Arts or Sciences stream of the course, and this choice will decide which key question they will investigate for the week. Rather than focusing on learning facts, the goal is to enable pupils to achieve higher-order outcomes by interrogating information and applying skills in multiple contexts. Lessons will involve pitched debates, and all students will conclude their course with an assessed presentation. Our Sciences stream students will also be given the chance to enjoy the ‘Explorer Dome’ experience – a specially-made portable planetarium which will feature a relevant show in which students will take part.

The ORA junior summer school experience

Where could the Academic Discovery Plus course lead you?

Why choose the Academic Discovery Plus programme?

The Academic Discovery and Academic Discovery Plus Programmes are Oxford Royale Academy’s most popular junior courses, offering younger students the chance to apply learning in a wider context than they may be used to in school. Students can explore their key topic through their chosen lens of either STEM or Arts, which will provide them with the ability to explore knowledge through a variety of different contexts.

How will the Academic Discovery Plus programme help me?

The variety of key questions on offer means that no two weeks on this course are ever the same. Students can choose to study for one week only, or they can choose to study for several weeks, and explore a variety of different topics through the disciplines of STEM or Arts, giving them an ever-wider context to their learning.

Is this the course for me?

If you are hoping to develop a love of learning and academic exploration, then this is the course for you. With rigorous academic tuition available, as well as interactive workshops and enriching excursions, the Academic Discovery Plus Programme offers a varied learning experience that will benefit students both inside and outside of the classroom.

Topics covered

Each week of study will be themed around a key question, framing the lessons and activities in a wider context. Examples of these questions can be found below:

Can technology and engineering alone help us to achieve ‘sustainable cities'? During the course, students will examine a range of big questions regarding cities and sustainable living, such as “How polluted are our cities?” and “Is solar power economically viable in developing countries?”

What skills would enable you to survive on a remote Indian Ocean island? Students will work out what skills and tools are essential in survival situations, and look at historical examples of odds-defying survivors of fact and fiction, such as Robinson Crusoe.

How is the way we experience ‘The Arts’ changing over time? During the course, students will compare classic literature to film adaptations, investigate the use of narrative in modern advertising, and explore ways in which technology is changing how we experience traditional forms of art.

How can scientists and engineers improve transport for the future? Students will think about how speed has increased in importance, how transport impacts infrastructure, and how world-wide transport networks have impacted on the environment.

In each case, students will explore the topic through scientific and arts-based lenses, leading to a wider investigation of the subject.

Students will not be able to study the same key question twice; however we would be delighted to welcome students who wish to stay for four or five weeks. For bookings of more than three weeks in length, we ask that students choose a combination of STEM and Arts options.

The grid below shows which key question students will investigate in each week.

Course Length

Course Dates

Key Question

Week 1

8 Jul – 14 Jul

STEM: Designing a better world: Can technology and engineering alone help us to achieve ‘sustainable cities?’
ORARTS: From scene to screen: how is the way we experience ‘The Arts’ changing over time?

Week 2

15 Jul – 21 Jul

STEM: Self-driving cars and bullet trains. How can scientists and engineers improve transport for the future?
ORARTS: In what ways have travel and exploration shaped the world in which we live?

Week 3

22 Jul – 28 Jul

STEM: Stranded! What skills would enable you to survive on a remote Indian Ocean island?
ORARTS: ‘Please Sir, I want some more.’ Was life in Victorian Britain as bleak as Dickens portrayed?

Week 4

29 Jul – 4 Aug

STEM: Designing a better world: Can technology and engineering alone help us to achieve ‘sustainable cities?’
ORARTS: From scene to screen: how is the way we experience ‘The Arts’ changing over time?

Week 5

5 Aug – 11 Aug

STEM: Self-driving cars and bullet trains. How can scientists and engineers improve transport for the future?
ORARTS: In what ways have travel and exploration shaped the world in which we live?

What will you get out of the Academic Discovery Plus course?

By the end of the course, students will have:

developed a variety of STEM skills such as planning, carrying out and evaluating fair scientific tests

investigated and improved on a variety of Arts and Humanities skills such as historical enquiry, language analysis and delivering presentations

developed the skills with which to formulate and justify their own opinions on a variety of subject matters

explored the relationship between science and the arts and how the two can combine to form a rounded appreciation of the world

worked collaboratively to constructively question and evaluate each other’s work

experienced a diverse range of exciting, practical learning experiences which will ensure full engagement with and enjoyment of the course

Welcome to St Mary's School, Ascot - your home this summer

Students on our Junior summer school courses at St Mary's School, Ascot, will enjoy the facilities of one of the top boarding schools in the UK, with its extensive grounds and well-equipped learning spaces.

During lessons, students will be taught by experienced tutors, while outside of class they will enjoy a varied extracurricular programme in a safe environment, led by our student counsellors.

The international environment, combined with top-quality tutoring in a world-class venue, make Oxford Royale's Junior Summer School the best junior summer school in the UK.

Sample Timetable

Useful information for students & parents

Accommodation

Students will be accommodated in comfortable twin or dormitory rooms, separated by gender - please contact our registrations team if you would like more information. Accommodation is the standard accommodation for school pupils who study at St Mary's School, Ascot, so students are able to get a flavour for what being a pupil at this prestigious UK boarding school is like. Bathrooms are typically shared between students of the same gender.

Pastoral care & student welfare

The programme is overseen by the Programme Director, who implements the day-to-day running of the programme. The Director is assisted by a team of Counsellors who are there to help pupils with their daily needs and to run activities for them outside of class. The Counsellors ensure that students are looked after pastorally, culturally and socially during their programme. Students are able to talk informally and frankly to the Counsellors in order to raise concerns or to discuss their course. Residential staff live in the school throughout the programme and are able to assist students at any time of the day or night.

Eligibility & pre-requisites

Students on this course:

Must conform to our age policy.

Must be fluent or near-fluent English language speakers – if you are unsure whether your English level is suitable for this programme, please contact our Registrations Team on admin@oxford-royale.co.uk and they will be able to assist you.

Must be able to fulfil the basic requirements of the programme, in terms of attendance at lessons, meals and events. Please contact our Registrations Team for more detailed information.

Should check the prerequisites of each course they select before enrolling.

Academic Discovery Plus (11-12) is residential in the following locations:

(If your course takes place in more than one campus in the same city and you would like to know more about which location you will be allocated, please call our registrations team)

Check Availability & Apply Online

What our students have to say

Jason, USA

Oxford Royale was the best summer camp I have ever attended. Not only did I learn a lot through the course, but I also met people from all over the world. In addition, I really got to know my fellow students and the counselors through the time we spent together on the excursions and evening activities. Overall, this was an awesome experience and I would recommend it to pretty much anyone.

Aaron, USA

I had an amazing time at ORA. Every student was incredibly friendly and smart, and I had a wonderful time getting to know each and every person. My time at ORA flew by and by the time it was time to leave I couldn’t believe I was leaving my new friends. I highly recommend the programme as an opportunity to make friends and learn about other cultures.

Zsanka, Sweden

I have had an incredibly fun, cultivating experience at Oxford Royale Academy. I have gained so much knowledge that will help me with studies and in life. I have also met the most incredibly intelligent people. The memories I have made here will stay with me for life as I am so happy to have stayed in Oxford.

Oxford Royale Academy is a part of Oxford Programs Limited, UK company number 6045196. The company contracts with institutions including Oxford University for the use of their facilities and also contracts with tutors from those institutions but does not operate under the aegis of Oxford University.